Be silent before the Lord and wait expectantly for him; do not be agitated by one who prospers in his way, by the person who carries out evil plans. (Psalm 37:7)
 
The one thing that I do not like about ordering items online is the delivery. Yes, it might be faster than going to the store. However, have you ever got fixated on the delivery timeframe for something that you needed. Checking Amazon constantly for has it shipped, is it on its way, what time is it going to arrive. We wait expectantly for the passage to arrive especially when it gives us a time frame of when it will arrive.

I can expect for it to arrive it might not be the time that I want it to arrive. We are to wait on God and not worry about those who are doing evil. It can be difficult if we pick up the newspaper or any media we hear about war, violence, murder just chaos running around. Yet, God calls us to wait patiently this does not mean to sit idly and just watch the world unfold before our eyes. It means to bring all the concerns of your heart everything that you see taking place before him. Pray about it, seek him, wait on Him. He has seen all that takes place in the world and has assured us the destruction of evil.

It may be hard to wait on Him. There are times when we might want to take revenge and even matters into our own hands. This will only make it worse. God sees everything that is happening just wait on Him. Continue to wait expectantly on Him for everything takes places in his timing.
 
Lord, there is so much evil that prospers in the world sometimes it feels like evil keeps prospering over good. Though I may want to act I will seek you first and wait on you.
                 
Walking with you,
Stacy Watkins

“Yes, at that time I will deal with all who oppress you. I will save the lame and gather the outcasts; I will make those who were disgraced throughout the earth receive praise and fame.” (Zephaniah 3:19)
 
It is crazy that today you can be signaled out by the type of socks you wear. Apparently, ankle socks are no longer the hip thing to wear. I remember having crew socks and pulling them down to make it appear as if I was wearing ankle socks. It was a pretty genius tactic to fit in with the cool kids. We all may feel like outcasts at some point in our lives that we just do not simply belong. For some reason we feel like we stand out and not part of the group. It can be especially easy to feel as an outcast when we have impairments. We can start to doubt our own abilities and what we know we can do.

Often, we can feel shame because we feel like an outcast or do not fit in anywhere no matter how hard we try. Shame happens not because someone necessarily does something to us but, how we internalize a situation it can involve negative self-evaluation and not living up to certain standards making yourself believe that you are not worthy. It can be difficult to feel worthy when feeling like an outcast or dealing with shame.

Thankfully, God can change us. Although we may feel like an outcast or shameful, he brings us into families and healthy communities. You end up receiving praise and fame it might not include being a famous actor comparable to Harrison Ford, but you may become famous within your community. People will know you for what you have overcome and how you have grown. You may not receive praise from millions but, you will receive praise from those who are in your corner and especially God.
 
Heavenly Father, you replace shame with glory though I am struggling with sin help me to repent and rely on your Holy Spirit to change for the better.
 
Praying,
Stacy Watkins

“For I am doing something in your days that you will not believe when you hear about it.” (Habukkuk 1:5)
 

If you turn on the news today it always seems very negative majority of the media coverage includes possibility of war. Hurricanes take out power in cities. Companies are laying off hundreds of workers. Children are killed by their parents. There is a lot of injustice in the world that can make us question if there is a God? Or even why is God not intervening? Why is He allowing for all this to happen? We can get drained from negative circumstances and just want everything to be right in the world.  When devastating circumstances rock our lives, we can doubt God and what He is even doing.

God is not scared of our questions or our doubt. Instead, he gives us hope in hard times. Sometimes the plan that God is doing is completely unbelievable that we would not even believe it even if we tried. We can only see a part of the story and not the entire picture. God sees the entire picture and can work things together for good. God is working in our lives and in the world in ways what we could not imagine.

​It can feel like God is absent or not listening during these times, but he hears our cries and wants the best for us. God is bigger than any of our circumstances and can make a way when we see there is no way.  The situation may seem bleak but there is a light at the end of the tunnel. Your situation does not define who you are. You are worth more than your situation.
 
Heavenly Father, there is so much violence and negative circumstances in the world that I do not understand. It is hard to find hope when there is so much wrongdoing. But God, may I continue to trust in you for I know you are doing something completely unbelievable that I could not even imagine happening.
 
Praying,
Stacy Watkins

“The Lord is good, a stronghold in a day of distress; he cares for those who take refuge in him.” (Nahum 1:7)
 
Where do we go when there is trouble? In elementary school we practice occasionally, what to do when a fire happens, an earthquake happens, or any possible danger. Students knew where they can seek refuge who are the responders who are good that are there to help. The responders did not know us though they were simply there to do a job to make sure there was no fire, or no person who was not authorized to be there was not there. The teachers knew us at school so we could take refuge in them, but they did not know us completely. Some distresses we are not prepared for, and our lives are always dated before and after the event that happened. We can think back to prior when we could pack an entire lunch and even smoke on planes while now you can barely even bring water through security let alone even walk through security with shoes on.

In a day of distress, it is hard to think critically to think what to do next. When we are actively going through a traumatic event like a divorce, medical emergency, or anything that can cause us extreme anxiety, sorrow, or pain it can feel hard to know exactly what to do in the situation. Often, these situations can feel like they are personal attacks from God, and he does not care for us. However, this is not the case. God loves you; God is good, he cares for you, he knows what you’re going through and sees you. He desires for us to come to him with our problems to earnestly seek him. We can be assured that we can take refuge in him during our traumatic events. 
 
Heavenly Father, when I see no way out of my situation and feel like it is unbearable lord, I thank you that I can turn to you and know that I am loved by you. May I continue to seek you in my situation and find refuge in you.
 
Praying,
Stacy Watkins

Your arrogant heart has deceived you, you who live in clefts of the rock in your home on the heights, who say to yourself, “Who can bring me down to the ground”

It is way too easy to succumb to pride. To think that we are better than anyone else, we deserve something because of who we are, and even thinking that we are invincible no one can touch us. We never really know when we are struggling with pride because at the same time, we might get conflicting messages from friends saying “you do so much you deserve it” inflating each of our egos making us believe that we deserve something.

While in the military I did a lot of volunteer work at animal shelters, after school programs, and various activities my superiors wanted me to be recognized as junior sailor of the quarter. I was nominated several times and did not receive the award. By the second time I was nominated I had gotten it in my head that I deserve the award more than anyone because I was the only one who SHOULD be awarded this honor. I had let my ego dictate and say that I deserve to receive recognition, honor, and a plaque. I do not deserve any of it. For it is only through God that I can do the work.

It was pride that led me to believe that I should be awarded for the things that I loved doing. The wrong heart that believed that my friends who were also helping the community did not deserve to be recognized for their contributions and only I was worthy. Our hearts can deceive us and led us to believe that we are better than others, deserve more, and invincible. This is deceiving and not true. God is greater than any person on earth. No matter how great we may think we are God is greater. He can bring us down when we are filled with pride. Allow God to search your heart ask for help when needed, show you what your struggles are, and take steps forward to change.
 
Walking with you,
Stacy Watt

 
“And in the place where they were told: You are not my people, they will be called: Sons of the living God,”
 
Relationships can be difficult and often challenging to maintain. Many of us have friends that we no longer talk to or spend time with. Family members because of our life choices that are not good for us stop talking to us. The choices that we make can strain relationships pushing them to the point of nonexistence. The people closest to us, our own family, can decide that they no longer want to be around us or even that we do not belong apart of the family anymore. We have heard tragic words of “You are dead to me” or even “You are no longer my son or daughter.” Leaving many of us abandoned and alone and even feeling unloved.

Places can remind us of broken relationships the pain and the hurt that we once felt being torn from relationships that we once held dear to us in our hearts. For many of us we can avoid these places for years. The pain of returning can sometimes be unbearable.  However, the same place can bring redemption.
​
God takes the places that can bring us anguish and heartache and instead can bring redemption. Although, family and friends may turn their backs on us and say “we are no longer family” or even “You are dead to me” there is a God who says that you are his son and daughter. There is a God who loves you even when you are reminded that those who are supposed to be closest to you blood relatives want nothing to do with you. God sees you and loves you declaring that you are his child and will never leave you.
 
Praying,
Stacy Watt

Scripture:  Isaiah 58, Matthew 6:1-18; 9:14-17, Acts 13:1-3
 
Types of Fasting (feel free to replace food with anything that will cost you comfort or pleasure):

• Normal – Going without food for a definite period of time and only taking in liquids (be careful – know your physical limits and health issues)
  
• Absolute – Going without any food or water (not recommended)
  
• Partial – Going without certain foods or is on a limited eating schedule. For example skipping lunch or only eating when it is dark.
  
• Rotational – Eating or omitting certain families of foods for designated periods. Like only eating grains every fourth day.

 
Biblical Examples of Fasting

• The Disciples Fast – Matthew 6:1-18; 9:14-17
• The Ezra Fast – Ezra 8:23
• The Samuel Fast – 1 Samuel 7:6
• The Elijah Fast – 1 Kings 19:4-8
• The Widow’s Fast – 1 Kings 17:16
• Paul’s Fast – Acts 9:9
• The Daniel Fast – Daniel 1:8
• John’s Fast – Luke 1:15
• The Esther Fast – Esther 4:16 – 5:2

 
Suggested Reading:

• “Fasting For Spiritual Break Through” – Elmer Towns
• “A Hunger For God” – John Piper

Will you commit to fasting between now and Easter Sunday?
 
Step 1 – Why Fast?
Why are you fasting? Is it for spiritual renewal? For guidance? For healing? For the resolution of problems? Ask the Holy Spirit to clarify what He wants you to take away from this time.
 
“One of the greatest spiritual benefits of fasting is becoming more attentive to God – becoming more aware of our own inadequacies and His adequacy, our own contingencies and His self-sufficiency – and listening to what He wants us to be and do.”  - Elmer Towns
 
Step 2 – Commit
How long will you fast?  What will you fast?
How will you increase your time with God?  How much time will you devote to pray and God’s Word?
 
Step 3 – Accountability
Who do you trust?  Tell them about your fast, not to brag, but so they can hold you accountable.  Give them permission to check in with you and see how the fast is going.
 
Your Fasting Plan
Write it down:

• Why are you fasting?
  
• What are you fasting?
  
• How long will you fast?
  
• Who will hold you accountable?                                                       

 

I have seen everything in this meaningless life, including the death of good young people and the long life of wicked people. So don’t be too good or too wise! Why destroy yourself? On the other hand, don’t be too wicked either. Don’t be a fool! Why die before your time? Pay attention to these instructions, for anyone who fears God will avoid both extremes.
Ecclesiastes 7:15-18
 
King Solomon was the wisest King the nation of Israel ever had.  But, that wisdom didn’t get him very far. If anything that wisdom led him down a path of destruction. He had searched for meaning and sought gain in every area of life under the sun he possibly could. He gained wealth, fame, and women.  But, in the end none of those things ever provided any satisfaction. He gets to a point in this letter where he says we need to find balance in life.
 
We have a lot of voices to listen to in life and a lot of choices to make. It is easy to get pulled from one extreme to another. Solomon says money can only do so much, even though it is something we need. If we go too far one way or the other we will get lost. We can’t totally do without but having it all isn’t good either. He talks about patience being something we need in order to get through this life. In other words we have to be willing to be in the moment and not try to rush ahead in envy of other seasons or people. He also says, it is good to remember the past, but you can’t live there. If we spend all of our time longing for the “good ol’ days” we will miss the present moment God has us in and the hope we should have with the future.
 
So, what are we supposed to do? How do we escape this constant pull? Solomon has an easy answer – fear God. Live life with a healthy reverence of who God is. Make Him your focus and trust. It is in that space we will find a healthy balance and find the most joy and peace in life under the sun. So, fear God, that is the first step.
 
The second step Solomon shares with us in verse 26 where he says we need to please God. He was talking about how he was attracted to seductive women and his only escape was to live in obedience to God. These extremes are attractive. Money is attractive. Power and influence is attractive. The past is attractive. The future is attractive. We want lots of things and they can easily be seductive. We avoid that seduction and find the escape as we live in obedience to God. He leads us out of the extremes and away from the dangers of that seductive woman, but we have to be willing to follow.
 
Seek balance in life – do so by living in fear of God and in obedience to Him.
 
In Christ,
Pastor Matt

Luke 8:43-44 (NIV): And a woman was there who had been subject to bleeding for twelve years, but no one could heal her. She came up behind him and touched the edge of his cloak, and immediately her bleeding stopped.”

Are you at the end of your resources? Do your problems seem beyond solutions? There
is a person who knows how you feel. The bleeding that has plagued her for 12 years has left her weak and exhausted. This causes her to be an outcast to her family and place of worship. Each trip to doctors who have no answers fills her heart with hope, but empties her wallet. Now, she is propelled forward by miraculous reports of the blind seeing, the lame walking, and the deaf hearing. A spark rises within her as she braves the crowds following Jesus. At the risk of making this man unclean, she quickly touches the hem of his robe, believing she will be healed.

Her touch of the garment of God is the act of faith that Jesus recognized. Jesus rewarded her risk, and acknowledged her faith with complete healing. She could now return to her family and place of worship with the assurance that she was truly clean. A step of faith always changes us and brings us closer to God.

You can come boldly at your hour of need.
Expect what you are seeking.
Give thanks.

​Chris Cooke

I can tell “the” story, but what about “my” story, or “your” story? The hymn writer speaks of Jesus and His love in this well-loved hymn. If it’s just “the” story and not “my” story, it can be just an idea removed from me in history. However, if it’s my own personal story of Jesus and His Love—that’s where heaven meets my heart and a testimony is shared.

From a tiny baby with little hope to live, Jesus’ love saved me so that I can live for Him. My mother’s desperate sacrifice that offered me to Jesus allowed me to live. That love of Christ found me as a six-year-old girl whose heart was stirred to receive Him. That same love protected me on the streets of Portland in broad daylight when a man had an idea to pull me into his car—but stopped short. That same love protected me through travels, school, work, relationships, grief, unemployment, and fulfilling careers. And, it still protects and guards my heart today as I am in relationship with Him.

How has Jesus’ love drawn, guarded, and protected you? Can you encourage someone today with your own story? It may just be what they need to hear so that you are the Light of the world.

Chris Cooke